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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Manufacturing Engineer Lead is approximately $88,937 per year or $43 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on geographic location, experience, and the specific industry. For instance, leads in high-demand areas may earn substantially more due to localized market conditions.
Variations in salary exist across states. States like California and Texas often offer higher pay rates due to the concentration of manufacturing firms and innovative companies. Understanding these regional differences can aid job seekers in negotiating salaries effectively.
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with extensive experience in manufacturing leadership can earn upwards of six figures. Investing in ongoing education and certifications can further enhance career prospects and salary potential.
Various platforms, including Zippia, list job openings specifically for Manufacturing Engineer Leads. Tailoring your resume to highlight relevant skills such as project management and process optimization will improve your chances of securing a higher-paying position.
Let Zippi find your next manufacturing engineer lead job
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level manufacturing engineer lead | $64,900 | $31.21 |
| Mid-level manufacturing engineer lead | $91,700 | $44.10 |
| Senior-level manufacturing engineer lead | $112,000 | $53.84 |
The highest-paying states for manufacturing engineers lead are California, New Mexico, and Arizona. The lowest average manufacturing engineer lead salary states are Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $97,726 | $46.98 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $102,573 | $49.31 |
| 3 | California | $103,364 | $49.69 |
| 4 | Arizona | $100,941 | $48.53 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $87,559 | $42.10 |
| 6 | Delaware | $95,387 | $45.86 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $91,149 | $43.82 |
| 8 | Texas | $93,771 | $45.08 |
| 9 | Washington | $94,971 | $45.66 |
| 10 | Alabama | $89,246 | $42.91 |
| 11 | Virginia | $95,053 | $45.70 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $85,783 | $41.24 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $90,006 | $43.27 |
| 14 | Michigan | $81,906 | $39.38 |
| 15 | Montana | $81,952 | $39.40 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $87,449 | $42.04 |
| 17 | Utah | $80,161 | $38.54 |
| 18 | Maryland | $92,222 | $44.34 |
| 19 | New York | $93,499 | $44.95 |
| 20 | Colorado | $87,962 | $42.29 |
| 21 | Illinois | $86,782 | $41.72 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $83,101 | $39.95 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $91,105 | $43.80 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $83,614 | $40.20 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $80,851 | $38.87 |
| 26 | Oregon | $83,969 | $40.37 |
| 27 | Ohio | $75,290 | $36.20 |
| 28 | Maine | $85,154 | $40.94 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $80,637 | $38.77 |
| 30 | Nevada | $78,088 | $37.54 |
| 31 | Alaska | $80,836 | $38.86 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $76,053 | $36.56 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $76,803 | $36.92 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $78,143 | $37.57 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $74,337 | $35.74 |
| 37 | Florida | $81,297 | $39.09 |
| 38 | Georgia | $80,263 | $38.59 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $80,061 | $38.49 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $78,346 | $37.67 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $74,539 | $35.84 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $68,639 | $33.00 |
| 43 | Vermont | $79,485 | $38.21 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $70,750 | $34.01 |
| 45 | Kansas | $65,126 | $31.31 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $80,537 | $38.72 |
| 47 | Iowa | $73,476 | $35.33 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $72,968 | $35.08 |
| 49 | Indiana | $61,654 | $29.64 |
| 50 | Missouri | $73,478 | $35.33 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $64,617 | $31.07 |
The highest-paying cities for manufacturing engineers lead are San Francisco, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and Everett, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $112,495 | $54.08 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $101,010 | $48.56 |
| 3 | Everett, WA | $95,541 | $45.93 |
| 4 | Seguin, TX | $94,601 | $45.48 |
| 5 | Somerville, MA | $91,160 | $43.83 |
| 6 | Westminster, CO | $87,869 | $42.24 |
| 7 | Buffalo Grove, IL | $87,101 | $41.88 |
| 8 | Chaska, MN | $85,705 | $41.20 |
| 9 | Bangor, ME | $84,252 | $40.51 |
| 10 | Beaverton, OR | $83,774 | $40.28 |
| 11 | Jacksonville, FL | $80,792 | $38.84 |
| 12 | Midvale, UT | $79,837 | $38.38 |
| 13 | Greenville, NC | $79,782 | $38.36 |
| 14 | Greenville, SC | $78,269 | $37.63 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $77,743 | $37.38 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $76,199 | $36.63 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $73,441 | $35.31 |
| 18 | Kansas City, KS | $65,088 | $31.29 |
| 19 | Columbus, IN | $61,440 | $29.54 |
A manufacturing engineer lead's salary ranges from $70,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $112,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $112,000 | $9,333 | $54 |
| 75th Percentile | $100,000 | $8,333 | $48 |
| Average | $88,937 | $7,411 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
The highest paying types of manufacturing engineers lead are manufacturing engineering manager, lead design engineer, and project lead engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tool Engineer | $101,135 | $8,428 | $48.62 | 98,936 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Project Lead Engineer | $106,946 | $8,912 | $51.42 | 98,018 |
| Process Engineer | $82,443 | $6,870 | $39.64 | 66,937 |
| Lead Design Engineer | $108,490 | $9,041 | $52.16 | 118,073 |
| Design Engineer | $77,134 | $6,428 | $37.08 | 138,173 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for manufacturing engineer leads, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Marco Schoen Ph.D.
Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Director of the Measurement and Control Engineering Research Center (MCERC), Idaho State University
Top companies hiring manufacturing engineers lead now:
Manufacturing engineer lead salaries at Google and Gillette are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average manufacturing engineer lead salary at companies like Nike and Baker Hughes are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $127,973 | $61.53 | |
| 2 | Gillette | $102,807 | $49.43 |
| 3 | Nike | $102,752 | $49.40 |
| 4 | Baker Hughes | $102,717 | $49.38 |
| 5 | General Motors | $100,372 | $48.26 |
| 6 | Entegris | $98,596 | $47.40 |
| 7 | P&G | $96,221 | $46.26 |
| 8 | Tesla | $95,349 | $45.84 |
| 9 | Wabtec Corporation | $95,260 | $45.80 |
| 10 | Nikola Motor | $94,696 | $45.53 |
| 11 | BorgWarner | $94,390 | $45.38 |
| 12 | BD | $93,286 | $44.85 |
| 13 | International Trucks | $93,023 | $44.72 |
| 14 | Navistar | $92,159 | $44.31 |
| 15 | General Electric | $91,514 | $44.00 |
| 16 | Burns & McDonnell | $91,408 | $43.95 |
| 17 | PepsiCo | $91,294 | $43.89 |
| 18 | Royal Oak Industries, Inc. | $91,125 | $43.81 |
| 19 | BRP US Inc | $89,417 | $42.99 |
| 20 | EZ | $88,813 | $42.70 |
The average manufacturing engineer lead salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $92,299 | $44.37 |
| 2 | Technology | $85,506 | $41.11 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $85,173 | $40.95 |
| 4 | Transportation | $80,118 | $38.52 |
The average manufacturing engineer lead salary has risen by $11,012 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average manufacturing engineer lead earned $77,925 annually, but today, they earn $88,937 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for manufacturing engineers lead over the last decade.
Compare manufacturing engineer lead salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare manufacturing engineer lead salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $88,900 | $42.76 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $85,200 | $40.96 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $83,400 | $40.11 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | $83,700 | $40.22 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | $83,700 | $40.24 | +1.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maybell Quantum Industries | Lead Manufacturing Engineer | Denver, CO | 06/29/2025 | $115,000 |
| GE Vernova | Tech Lead-Manufacturing Engineer | Richmond, VA | 06/28/2025 | $81,700 |
| GE Vernova | Manufacturing Engineer & Lean Leader | Erlanger, KY | 06/28/2025 | $81,700 |
| Actalent | Lead Manufacturing Engineer | Holyoke, MA | 06/27/2025 | $120,000 |
| Eaton Corporation | Lead Manufacturing Engineer | Greenwood, SC | 06/24/2025 | $93,750 |
| Actalent | Manufacturing Engineer Lead-Capital Projects | Greensboro, NC | 06/20/2025 | $79,306 |
| Northrop Grumman | Manufacturing Engineer Lead 4-Night Shift | Iuka, MS | 06/19/2025 | $102,200 |
| Msccn | Lead Manufacturing Engineer-Cleveland TN | Cleveland, TN | 06/15/2025 | $83,250 |
| Exodus Integrity Services | Lead Oracle Manufacturing Cloud Engineer | Beachwood, OH | 06/12/2025 | $150,000 |
| Eaton Corporation | Lead Manufacturing Engineer | Cleveland, TN | 06/11/2025 | $83,250 |
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